Thursday, January 19, 2017

Are you and your partner finally ready to tie the knot? If so, you may be wondering how to get married abroad. Destination weddings are often the ideal route for many soon-to-be-married couples. They're exciting, fun, and allow for you and your closest relatives and friends to combine a vacation with a celebratory ceremony. But before you buy those plane tickets and pack something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue, here's what you'll want to do first:

Do your research. Planning a wedding in general is a rather daunting task, and planning one abroad is going to be even more challenging. Make sure you either know what you're getting yourself into. Consider hiring a wedding planner, or seek help from those who've "been there, done that."

Have proper documentation. You should be prepared to show valid identification abroad, and proof of you and your future spouse's currently single status. In other words, you'll need proper documentation to get married in many foreign countries. This will likely include your passport and a birth certificate, but it may also require a divorce decree or an affidavit of eligibility to marry. Blood tests and parental consent forms may also be required, depending on your age and the country you're tying the knot in.

Make sure your marriage is legal in the country you're choosing. Just because you exchanged rings and said "I do" on some remote beach in St Somewhere does not necessarily mean that you are now legally married. Different countries set their own legal requirements when it comes to marriage.

Make sure you've fulfilled the residency requirements. Most countries will also have residency requirements for couples to legally marry within their borders. This may involve being in the country for at least a week or two, or perhaps longer; there may also be some kind of waiting period. Residency laws vary so be sure to check ahead of time.

Make sure your foreign marriage will be valid back home. In general, your foreign marriage, if performed legally abroad, will also be valid in the United States. However, you may still have to take extra steps to get your marriage abroad recognized in your state. Check with your state attorney general's office, the State Department suggests.

Are you dizzy from all of this? No worries! I’d love to chat more about how I can help you with your Divine Destination Wedding abroad!

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

The parting of the sea - the sea of people flocking to the passport control lines has begun to get a little more manageable and dare I say enjoyable. That is, if you have Global Entry or the Mobile Passport app. The Mobile Passport app is the latest and greatest download every international traveler should have on their smart phone prior to landing back on US soil. It’s simple to get, simple to use and could very well allow you to love your next layover!

Here’s how it works:

Download the app from the App store or get it on Google Play

Set up your profile; you can even set up your entire family on one device!

Answer a few brief questions about your trip

Submit to CBP

Once you are at your port of entry (airport or sea port), connect to wireless or wi-fi and submit your data to CBP. Remember: when you submit, you are confirming under penalty of law that your information is correct. Within a few seconds, you will receive a CBP receipt with an encrypted barcode. Your receipt will be valid for 4 hours.

5) Breeze through Customs #LikeABoss

Follow the Mobile Passport Control signs to the designated Mobile Passport Control line. Show your passport to the CBP officer and scan the barcode on the CBP receipt. And that’s it!

Although the app won’t allow you to skip customs altogether, it will drastically shorten the time spent waiting in lines where officers bark orders such as “Don’t use your cell phones” or “NEXT!” or my favorite, “No videos or taking photos while in line” Sir, with all due respect, we just got back from an epic vacation don’t kill the vibe!

With all the time you just saved standing in line, you can go airport shopping, enjoy a few more minutes in the Sky Lounge or simply relax and smile knowing the worst part about vacation is getting to and from is getting just a little bit easier. So, with that being said, where in the world would you like to go next?